Friday, September 30, 2011

Last Friday our family walked in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s “Light The Night” walk after raising money for my second cousin, Trevor.

Everyone attending, which numbers were in the thousands, received a balloon filled with a tiny light. As everyone paraded through the city it was such a beautiful sight for a beautiful cause.

Saturday we celebrated a special little boy’s fifth birthday with all things Mario.

Happy birthday Mason!

I killed this scary creature. Sophie practiced patterns.

I got baby snuggles while watching the sidewalk chalk gang.

I tried on my purty shoes for my sister Maggie’s upcoming wedding. And might I just say, thank goodness for online shopping or I never would have found the time to forage the malls for cute yellow shoes with a small-ish heel. Gotta love being almost six feet tall.

This biker chick was all smiles despite her atrocious cough.

Someone used her special “wear a hat” coupon that she earned thanks to good behavior.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

I wanted to share a quote I heard last week from the film critic Roger Ebert’s new book. After recently learning about all the hardship he has endured facing cancer, which resulting in him losing his entire bottom jaw, his statement really stuck with me. Although he is unable to speak and can only communicate by either writing or by entering words into a computer, which in turn reads aloud his typed words, he still has such a powerful presence and outlook on life.

“We must try to contribute joy to the world. That is true no matter what our problems, our health, our circumstances. We must try. I didn't always know this and am happy I lived long enough to find it out. “

I just love this statement. Its says so much.

Someone contributed much joy to my crazy world filled with sick kids this morning….

The words in her card made me tear up. ”Thank you for being the second mom to my kids while I work. I admire your organization, cleanliness, creativity, willingness to help, your energy and LOVE. I truly believe you are a beautiful mom, wife, friend, sister and sitter on the inside and out. You deserve a Starbucks everyday!”

Seriously? To read words like this are so encouraging and wonderful. Especially when I am in a line of work that sometimes seems so under appreciated our in society.

So thank you Val for making me smile, on a day that I know was so sad for you. Brightening my (pity party for being sick and having sick kids) day. Reminding me of what kind of friend and person I always want to be.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Today, this little guy was hanging out on my laundry room door. No, it’s not a Halloween decoration! It’s for real people. So what did I so? I screamed and then I smashed him with my flip flop, like any normal housewife would do.

However, now my mom has me worried that it was perhaps a poisonous Brown Recluse. I have 20/20 vision, but given the circumstances, I don’t want to be worrying that I have a creepy brown recluse spider family crawling around here.

I need your eyes. Check out the chart below.

I think it looks more like the grass spider. What do you think?

Here’s hoping I won’t have to change the name of my blog to Haus of Spiders!

Monday, September 26, 2011

I cannot wait. But, I really have to, because there is still so much left to do…

Here is the flower girl inspiration. My girls all have their cowgirl boots and the most adorable sweater dresses. Now, I just need to make their flower headbands. (You all know I have already recruited Erin to assist me in this quest.)

My hair inspiration is the girl on the far right. Yay or Nay?

I just purchased these cute shoes to wear with my flowy green gown on the big day.

And, I will say, the search for shoes was my least favorite so far. Wearing a 10.5/11 is always a challenge, which I’m well aware, but I was so stunned to see that all the search results for size 11 were for men who liked to dress as women. Weird. If I may, I’d like to remind the shoe industry that real women wear size 11 too.

As Maggie and Austin’s wedding inches closer and closer, everything will work out. The to-do list items will get checked off. It will be a perfect day.

However, the most important question is, will Maggie and Austin conduct a better “train” at their reception than Steve and I did circa 2002?

Friday, September 23, 2011

Trevor was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in January and has been “kicking lymphoma’s bootie” ever since!

Tonight I will be walking in the Light The Night Walk which is The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s annual fundraising walk to pay tribute and bring hope to people battling cancer. Hundreds of thousands of participants raise funds for lifesaving research and patient services.

I want to help. My goal is to raise $100 today before I walk . If I can get 100 people that read my blog to donate $1 here:I would be forever grateful.

Please help me, help Trevor. Just $1 goes a long way.

Tonight Trevor will be in the bone marrow unit at Children's Hospital and unable to attend the walk, but hopefully with your support, it will help medical advancements that is giving him a chance at life!

*A donation of $25 provides patients and their loved ones with FREE booklets that contain up-to-date information on their disease and help them make informed decisions about their treatment options.

*A donation of $50 makes possible a Family Support group with a trained facilitator where comfort can be found and experiences can be shared among patients and family members.

*A donation of $100 (my goal!) helps supply laboratory researchers with supplies and materials critical to carrying out their search for cures.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Just in case it slipped your mind, they are watching your every move. They want to be just like you, act like you, treat people like you do, say the things you do. You are their first teacher. Remember this always.

I was happily reminded of this fact as I watched Gracie “reading” one afternoon…

About Me

I am a wife to Steve and a Mommy to three little girls, Mia, Sophie and Gracie. Our family also includes our two dogs and one cat. Also girls. Our house truly is a Haus of Girls. Poor Steve! Our girls are my inspiration for all that I do. I am thankful to spend each day with them as they grow and learn more about life and the world. I feel complete, now, raising my family. No career or money is worth more to me than my little girls and being here for them everyday. When I am 85 sitting in a rocking chair, I will have no regrets. I will know I lived my life to the fullest and gave my girls the best gift in the world... their momma by their side.